40 Shield Kaboom information to consider

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rbuzz

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Like many of you, the recent run of 40SW Shield Kabooms has me concerned even though I have had zero problems with my 40 Shield or 40c. I'm pretty sure that the owners of the Shields with the problems had no problems either until their gun blew up.
Although yet to be confirmed, the general consensus is that it is an ammo problem since the 40SW is known to be a hot load. In at least one case the ammo being used was said to be WWB 180 grain. While I have used WWB 180 grain with no problems, I have switched to WWB 165 grain.
The following article CALIBERS -- Why the 180gr Bullet is a Bad Choice for .40 S&W does a pretty good job of explaining why it might be better to stay away from using the 40SW 180 grain bullet. While this article may not be the definitive answer, it does present good, logical reasons why owners of 40SW handguns, especially polymer handguns, might want to consider another load.
 
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I am another one with a flawless shield 40, well over 1000 rounds and one nosedive is all. the biggest thing ive learned in all the reading on the kabooms is I WILL NOT be sending it to smith without an independent report on the gun and ammo FIRST!!
 
I use a OAL Gauge on all my ammo for 40. Also check overall length with a caliber. Use care not to cycle the same round into the chamber several times as this can cause setback and raise pressure. I use Hornady 165 Critical Defense for carry. It has a visible cannelure on the bullet. I have total faith in my 40 Shield.
 
rbuzz said:
Like many of you, the recent run of 40SW Shield Kabooms has me concerned even though I have had zero problems with my 40 Shield or 40c... (snip)
Click to expand...

Interesting, and a good linked article - thanks!

I've been using 180g since I switched to .40 in the early 90s, but I've recently started thinking about transitioning to 165g. This might be what it takes for me to get off my duff and do the research.
 
rbuzz, thanks for posting. After reading that article I checked my stock, & most of it is 180 grain. I'm thinking I'll reserve it for the 3rd Gens & stock up on 165 grain for the M&Ps. Better safe than sorry!
 


CALIBERS -- Why the 180gr Bullet is a Bad Choice for .40 S&W

"The 165gr is really the optimum choice for .40S&W shooters. It tends to be more accurate, have greater muzzle energy and momentum, and it significantly reduces the dangers associated with possible bullet setback (a bullet can, through normal handling, seat itself more deeply just by being loaded into the chamber of a gun, etc)."

And just how does using a shorter bullet prevent a pressure spike from bullet setback...? You almost always use more powder with a lighter bullet which with bullet setback would be just if not more pressure from a bullet being pushed back. Add to this the article is over a decade old and the 180gr .40SW ammo is still plenty available and in use. I don't know the author or his experience level but this article seems to draw conclusions with little backing and provide no info on the ammo choice being pushed. I won't raise the BS flag, but I am more than a little skeptical.
 
I reloaded a lot of .40 S&W using a mongrel assortment of cases and mostly 180 grain plated bullets -- no problems in my M&P40. I recently sold the M&P40 and refocused my "collection" of pistols on 9mm -- for a lot of reasons.

I've read the recent threads on the Shield KaBoom issue. The truth is, with the barrel cracked or split, and the round gone, there is little chance of determining 1) was it a metallurgical flaw in that particular barrel? or 2) was that particular round overloaded? (whether with too much powder or too much set back of the bullet) or 3) did the gun fire out of battery? The evidence is destroyed, so to speak. S&W is unlikely to admit to a manufacturing flaw there is no compelling evidence, and would have to have a lot of close serial numbers to be able to infer they made some sort of batch error on the barrel assembly line (and, although they are an honest company from what I can tell, they wouldn't have to share that info).

The numbers of .40 Shield Kabooms is so small that it does not seem to be a design problem, per se -- or we'd be hearing a lot more about it. But it seems the number of .40 Kabooms is larger than the number of 9 Shield Kabooms, so there is something that can be learned here.

If you own a .40 Shield, you may have to just accept that there is some risk of a Kaboom, albeit a small one. (Those of us who reload accept that reloaded ammo leads to more problems, at least statistically, than factory ammo -- and we have to live with that -- and that is why I do not reload ammo for self-defense/carry purposes).
 
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worm5932 said:
I am another one with a flawless shield 40, well over 1000 rounds and one nosedive is all. the biggest thing ive learned in all the reading on the kabooms is I WILL NOT be sending it to smith without an independent report on the gun and ammo FIRST!!
Click to expand...

Where exactly would you get an "independent report" and how much do you think such a thing by a properly equipped scientific laboratory would cost? Obviously, you can do that, I would just like to know where and the cost, "just in case."
 
If there really is a problem with the gun I would think they would do a recall before someone got hurt. The xds was recalled even though there were not too many reported issues. I am glad I traded all but one of my auto's for revolvers. Kept my sig.
 
Maximumbob54 said:
And just how does using a shorter bullet prevent a pressure spike from bullet setback...?
Click to expand...
An excellent question sir. I was wondering the same thing myself.

There is a factor here that many forget; volume of rounds fired. How many millions of 180gr rounds have been fired since the inception of the .40S&W cartridge? Out of all those rounds, how many caused catastrophic gun failure(kaboom)? Have all the KBs been with 180gr bullets?

What was written in that article seems sound, but it's incomplete.
 
Great information, I have been using Federal 180 grain HST and never had an issue with my .40, but I will switch to 165 grain.
 
I am staying with 180g HST

Kabooms MOSTLY occur because

1) Someone shoots the next round when they have a squib. My ONLY squib, shooting my whole life, came from an older
factory made hollow point. The primer shot the bullet into the barrel 1 inch. It didnt sound right. When I brought the gun home and examined it, the powder that was in the barrel was unburnt, but caked.

I believe the culprit was a very fine oil I was using on the gun that over time seeped into the bullet


2) Someone rechambers the same round again and again, and again
(A carry bullet is reloaded after every trip to the range with practice ammo) The 40 IS subject to bullet setback, and because it IS a higher pressure round, you have to be aware.

I have started to cycle through and shoot my HSTs in the mags, every few months


3) A double charge on a 40C COULD cause a Kaboom. When I load, I double check everything. (Scales, Meter) I then do a visual on every case before I put the projectile in

4) A Wrong powder charge. I have heard of reloaders putting a rifle powder in their pistol on mistake...... this could cause a kaboom


5) There are brass that have been shot out of unsupported chambers that I am cautious of. It has a projected bulge at the base. You can see it. It comes from some of the Glocks

If you are careful, 180 should be fine..... Watch for setback
 
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